When Self-Custody Becomes a Burden

Security

March 3, 2025

Written by Xapo Bank

It sounds like freedom until it feels like a full-time job. With Xapo Bank, you can leave behind the hassle of self-custody and secure, access, and grow your Bitcoin with smarter protection and total peace of mind.

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If you’ve been holding Bitcoin for years, you know the mantra: “Not your keys, not your coins.” Self-custody is a core principle of Bitcoin, empowering holders with full control. But as your Bitcoin wealth grows, so do the risks and responsibilities. 

Are you worried about losing access to your private keys? 

You wouldn’t be alone. Approximately 20% of all Bitcoin, or around 3.84 million BTC, is estimated to be lost due to inaccessible private keys.

Does managing multiple wallets, backups, and security protocols feel like a full-time job? 

The more Bitcoin you accumulate, the more complex security measures become. From multi-signature wallets to hardware backups and secure storage, these methods demand constant attention.

Do you want your Bitcoin to work for you, and not just sit in cold storage? 

While holding BTC for long-term appreciation is one strategy, idle Bitcoin depends entirely on market movements and earns nothing in the meantime. Xapo Bank offers a smarter alternative: institutional-grade security with daily interest payouts on your Bitcoin holdings.

Even seasoned Bitcoiners realise that once you hold enough Bitcoin, the risks, responsibilities, and limitations of self-custody start to outweigh the benefits. That’s where Xapo Bank comes in. We’re the sweet spot that enables you to keep your Bitcoin safe, liquid, and earning yield without compromising on security.

Self-Custody Works. Until It Doesn't

Managing your own Bitcoin is great…until it becomes overwhelming. Here are some of the most limiting aspects of self-custody:

  • Security risks: Losing your private keys or seed phrase means losing access to your Bitcoin forever. The larger your holdings, the greater the risk.

  • Poor usability: Most self-custody solutions are designed for holding, not spending. Need to move large amounts? Get ready for long confirmation times and high fees.

  • Complexity: Managing multi-signature wallets, hardware devices, and backups takes effort, especially as your Bitcoin grows. And dormant BTC in cold storage? It’s not earning. Price appreciation is great, but there are smarter ways to grow your wealth.

At some point, self-custody stops feeling like financial freedom and starts feeling like a burden. 

Security that adapts to the way you hold Bitcoin

Keeping Bitcoin safe shouldn’t feel like a full-time job. Xapo Bank takes security seriously, but we also believe it should work seamlessly in the background. No lost keys, no complicated recovery processes, and no unnecessary stress.

Instead of relying on a single device or a written seed phrase, we use Multi-Party Computation (MPC), an advanced security method that removes single points of failure. With MPC, your private key is not stored in one place. Instead, it is broken into multiple encrypted fragments and distributed across a secure network. That means there is no single key to steal, no recovery phrase to lose, and no one person who can access your Bitcoin.

If you have ever used a hardware wallet, you know the drill. Keep it safe, back it up, and hope you never misplace it. MPC removes that hassle entirely. There is nothing physical to store, yet your Bitcoin remains just as secure, with instant access whenever you need it.

But security is not just about software. We combine cutting-edge security protocols with the strongest physical security possible.

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Bitcoin storage designed for the unexpected

Your Bitcoin is protected inside a network of ultra-secure, bomb-proof vaults located in undisclosed locations around the world. These vaults are so secretive that not even our security team knows their exact locations, except for our Swiss bunker, a fortress so remote that it requires a helicopter to reach.

For high-net-worth members, the Swiss vault offers a rare glimpse inside one of the most secure Bitcoin storage facilities on the planet. For everyone else, secrecy is the best protection. These bunkers are designed to withstand natural disasters, cyberattacks, and even military-level threats, ensuring your Bitcoin remains safe no matter what happens in the world.

Xapo Bank has been securing Bitcoin since the early days. Over time, we have evolved our approach, keeping what works and improving what does not. Today, we offer the best of both worlds. Cutting-edge digital security combined with fortress-level physical protection, so you can hold Bitcoin with confidence.

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Why Xapo Bank? Security and growth without the stress

Xapo Bank provides the security of self-custody without the hassle. As one of the first fully licensed banks and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP), we combine institutional-grade protection with financial tools designed for Bitcoin holders.

Here is what you get with Xapo Bank:

Growth without the wait

  • Earning potential: Do more with your BTC instead of letting it sit. Earn 1% on Bitcoin and 4% on fiat holdings in Bitcoin with daily payouts, so your wealth keeps growing without lifting a finger. 

  • Up to 1% Bitcoin cashback: Earn BTC on elegible purchases with our global debit card. No FX fees, just seamless spending and Bitcoin rewards wherever you go.

Security that gives you confidence

  • Regulated protection: Unlike exchanges, Xapo Bank is a licensed bank. Eligible fiat deposits are protected by the Gibraltar Deposit Guarantee Scheme up to a maximum of the US Dollar equivalent of EUR 100,000 (subject to prevailing exchange rates on the compensation date)., giving you the same level of protection as traditional banks and true peace of mind.

  • Secure Bitcoin custody: Institutional-grade security eliminates the risk of lost keys while keeping your BTC protected under strict compliance standards.

  • Estate planning & legacy security: Ensure your Bitcoin wealth is passed on to the next generation without the risk of lost passwords or inaccessible funds.

Effortless spending

  • Lightning-fast transactions: Instant Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network, with no waiting, no hidden fees, and no hassle.

  • Seamless Bitcoin spending: Spend Bitcoin anywhere Mastercard and Visa are accepted. Enjoy the freedom to pay with BTC just like cash.

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Your Bitcoin. Your wealth. Your freedom.

Self-custody is not the only way. As your holdings grow, so do the risks. Lost keys, locked wallets, and Bitcoin that just sits there. Xapo Bank gives you security without stress, growth without the wait, and liquidity without limits.

Keep your Bitcoin safe and accessible, and earn it without giving up control. Learn more and start banking with Bitcoin today.

*Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.

Disclaimer

*Capital at risk. This information is not investment advice. Crypto asset values can go up as well as down and you could lose all the money you invest. This is a high‑risk investment and you are not protected if it loses all or some of its value. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Bitcoin deposits are not covered by the Gibraltar Deposit Guarantee Scheme.

*The Annual Interest Rate offered on both USD and Bitcoin deposits is variable and may change at any time. Please see our Interest FAQs for more information.

*Interest on both USD and BTC is currently paid in Satoshis. We may instead choose to pay it in any other supported currency or currencies (fiat and/or crypto) from time to time.

*Please note that some merchant categories are excluded from earning cashback. Please see our Xapo Bank card FAQs for more information.

This article is for general information purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice or a recommendation of any kind whatsoever and should not be relied upon or treated as a substitute for specific advice relevant to particular circumstances. We make no warranties, representations or undertakings about any of the content of this article (including, without limitation, as to the quality, accuracy, completeness or fitness for any particular purpose of such content), or any content of any other material referred to or accessed by hyperlinks through this article. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content on our site is accurate, complete or up-to-date.

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